The T.N. experience on caste survey

Source: The post is based on the article “The T.N. experience on caste survey” published in The Hindu on 27^th October 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Governance – Government Policies & Intervention

Relevance: Issues associated with providing reservation to Backward Classes in Tamil Nadu

News: The Bihar caste-based survey has sparked a national debate about increasing the 50% reservation limit. But Tamil Nadu’s experience shows that a caste census alone may not be enough to provide reservation.

Read Here for other aspects related to the caste-based survey: Caste Census Significance and Challenges- Explained

When were the First and the Second Backward Classes Commissions formed by the Tamil Nadu government?

The first Backward Classes Commission was formed for the period 1969-1970. It suggested raising Backward Classes (BCs) reservation.

How did the Second BC Commission come into being?

In Jan. 1980, the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu increased the reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) from 31% to 50%.

This brought the total reservation to 68%, including 18% for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

This decision was challenged in the Supreme Court. After which the state government set up (Second Backward Classes Commission), headed by J.A. Ambasankar.

What was the finding of the Ambasankar Commission?

The Ambasankar Commission conducted a survey to enumerate and classify Backward Classes (BCs), primarily focusing on BCs without providing a comprehensive breakdown of all communities.

The survey found that BCs made up 67.15% of the state’s population. In March 1989, an exclusive quota of 20% was provided for Most Backward Classes (MBCs) and Denotified Communities (DNCs) within the total share of BCs of 50%.

What were the issues related to reservation for Backward Classes faced by the Commission?

Amount of Reservation: The Chairman wanted to reduce the quota from 50% to 32% to keep the overall quota within the 50% limit.

However, the other panel members argued that the quota should be at least 50%, since BCs made up 67% of the population.

Scope of Reservation: The Chairman insisted on maintaining two separate lists of Backward Classes (BCs): one under Article 15(4) and another under Article 16(4).

He believed that being eligible for a quota under Article 15(4) did not automatically entitle individuals to reservations in job appointments under Article 16(4).

However, the majority of panel members supported having only one list. They argued that social and educational backwardness were interconnected, and educational benefits provided under Article 15(4) were a means to achieve employment benefits under Article 16(4).

What were the recommendations given by the Commission?

The government received two sets of recommendations, one from the Chairman and the other from panel members.

However, the government retained the status quo of 50% reservation for Backward Classes and accepted the inclusion of 29 communities but did not agree to remove 24 communities from the list.

How did the 1992 Supreme Court judgment affect State reservations?

Tamil Nadu government enacted a law to protect its 69% reservation for BCs and SCs by placing it under the Ninth Schedule after the Supreme Court’s Mandal Commission judgment in 1992.

The Tamil Nadu government has also provided reservation to other groups such as Muslims, Christians, Arunthathiyars (a sub-caste of SCs), and Vanniyars.

However, the Supreme Court has struck down the law providing a separate quota for Vanniyars on the ground that the data used by the government was not contemporaneous.

What can be the conclusion drawn?

The Tamil Nadu case illustrates that conducting a survey alone is insufficient for implementing reservations for the Backward Classes. Overcoming challenges such as court intervention, political will, scope and amount of reservation is also essential in providing reservation.

Question for Practice – Critically examine the issues and challenges associated with conducting a caste-based survey and providing reservation based on it, with proper examples.